Darren Doyle, story and photos: Magistrates approved the purchase of a new 2018 4x4 Ford F150 for the county road department today at fiscal court in the amount of $30,710, an amount that has been budgeted for such a purchase.

Judge Executive Wil Cannon said the amount does not come from magistrates' funds for road maintenance and repair, but the road department's annual budget amount.

County Road Foreman Ray Page said the department was in a great need for​ a new truck and referenced the vehicles currently used by crews, which included a 1997 model with 182k miles, a 1999 that he said was past repair, a 1988 model with 184K miles, and a 2004 Chevy with 184k miles with a rebuilt transmission.

"We're in a position that maybe we can periodically replace one at a time instead of all of them at once," said Judge Cannon.

Magistrate Joe Durbin noted that the county budget had allowed for the purchase and he motioned for approval. The motion was seconded by Magistrate Johnny Brooks. The motion passed unanimously.